The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-10-16
THE LOVERS LEAP.-C5ncIuded.

happy hunting grounds. Morning
Dawn" rode boldly by his side, not a
sign or word of fear, her eyes bright and
smile OF daring upon her lip. Jack did
not yet doubt they would escape if their
horses remained unhurt, for they were
as good animals as could be found in o
thousand miles. But the firing OF the
Indians he saw with concern were
for purpose, being directed more at the
horses than at them and chance bul
let, better directed than the others
might at any time cripple one or both
and then goodby to flight. He set his
teeth grimly as he read the meaning OF
this mode of shooting; capture and tor
ture it meant for him if successful. But
with gratitude he saw they were gradu-
ally drawiug away from their enemies
and began TO feel they would certainly
escape, when the very thing he feared
took place and the horse Morning
Dawn rode staggered along badly hit, a
bullet having ranged almost the entire
length of his body. The noble beast
strove to recover his lost stride, but was
too hardly hit and Jacks decision was
made IN a moment. No thought of
danger deferred hin. He knew single
he could escape and that capture was
almost inevitable together, get he never
faltered.
Loosen your feet" he cried, riding
close up to the struggling beast and
catching " orning Dawn IN his arms he
swung her into the saddle he had just
vacated and held her there till she set
tied herself to the stride of the horse.
A wild yell greeted this dexterouS feat
from the pursuing horde and they
came on with renewed ardor. Jacks
"a Il % oh q RnnWn
we were hurrying to his aid, as fast as
horsehesh could bring US, the end
might have been different, for simple
turn to the left would have brought US
together in five minutes, but fate wllled
it otherwise. He took a tnrn. to the
right as that offered better defence or
conceaiment right up high bluH that
oyerhung the river, with rocky preci
pice 200 feet, or more, in height. Up
this he toiled on foot, dismounting to
ease the horse, ever and anon turning
and firing into the pursuing crowd OF
yelling redskins, shielding the Morn
ing Dawn" who still rode the horse, as
they made their laborious way up the
mountain. The pursuers had to take
precautions before such a deadly
marksman, but now they were not so
urgent as thew knew their prey was
trapped, for there was only one safe way
down again and that way they guarded.
They no longer urged so close pur-
suit, though the number of friends they
had lost in the chase had reused their
passions to vindictive pitch, that even
their chief could not have curbed.
Jack al once saw it was all up with
him. He might kill few more of his
enemies, but he knew the end was cap
ture-t orture-death-or death with
arms in his har DIS striking to the last.
He and Morning Dawn got to the top
of the ridge-on the precipitous brink
where the river had ages before broken
its way through and rushed on its
noisV, foaming course 200 feet below.
They saw that escape by further flight
was impossible. The yaWning chasm
was 100 and more feet across-the pre-
cipice was sheer perpendicular down to
where the foaming river roared among
the rocks. Jack was noble and gener-
ouS-he saw they we're surrounded by
nearly a score of blOodthirsty fOemen,
who were taking advantage of every
bush, and tree, and rock, gradually
crawling up the hill and contracting the
circle of death, and his love went out in
generous impulse towards the beautiful
Morning Dawn
60" said he, quietly and lovingly,
his soul warming towards her, so strong,
so vigorous and full of life was she,
"back to your people; they will not hurt
you. They have no i'll will to you-they
will be kind and you may live long yet,
and may you be'happy. For me there
is no hope of living, | Will not live to
be takeE back to your village to afford
sport to my enemies by being tortured
to death. / sought to win your dear
love and to wear you truly, but that
dream is ended. l will fight and 1 will
die. I will mount my noble horse and
fight till death is inevitable and the
rush comes; then will leap him into the
river. Better that-far' more kind to
me than will be Big Buffalo's venge-
ance."
mot so, my chief" cried the Morn
ing Dawn. drawing herself up with an
understandable air of solemn dignity
the Indian maiden loves not in that
cold way. If you die, no longer wish
to live. We will both escape or we will
both die. If l am not your wife in this
life, Will be thine in death. Better, far
better for the Morning Dawn to lie in
the cold, foaming water below than be
the unwilling inmate of the Grey VOLTS
lodge. If my father rejects thee, my
chief, he rejects his daughter. Do with
me as you will, only drive me not from
you"
so be it then" said Jack, lightly,
kissing her brow, fierce exultation fill
ing his heart as he thought of his Ger
tain victory even in death. $50 be it
oh nay love, we will die together. Let
the Morning Dawn sing her death
song, in short time we will be dead"
Directing Morning Dawn to watch
that no foe came near enough to seize
him till he was ready, he turned to the
painting Horse and quieted him down.
taking q handkerchief he bound it
tightly over the animals eyes, still
soothing and quieting the poor dumb
beast, that had so Intellectually aided in
the escape. He then mounted the
horse with Morning Dawn behind him
and prepared for thelast grand struggle,
fully determined the enemy should pay
deadly for their victory, not that he
would escape, however, or had any
hopes of so doing. Mounted he turned
the animal from the precipice and Ia
grim determination awaited the onset
of the foe; who, seeing these move
ments, naturally thought he intended
to charge down the hill again at tho